Chief William Commanda Bridge (former Prince of Wales Bridge)

[acottawa]

Maybe we should just number everything. That can be Bridge 34 over River 13 between City 2 in Province 1 and City 4 in Province 2.

[PHrenetic]

Originally Posted by acottawa

Maybe we should just number everything. That can be Bridge 34 over River 13 between City 2 in Province 1 and City 4 in Province 2.

Good Day.

Sometimes, we might already do, in behind the scenes, because we have to.....
White Lake #1, White Lake #2, White Lake.......
(Arnprior , Sharbot , ....)

Ouch!

[phil235]

Originally Posted by acottawa

Maybe we should just number everything. That can be Bridge 34 over River 13 between City 2 in Province 1 and City 4 in Province 2.

That's an awesome idea. It has the added benefit of giving a bit of a totalitarian vibe, which is sorely lacking in Canada these days.

[YOWflier]

Originally Posted by acottawa

Maybe we should just number everything. That can be Bridge 34 over River 13 between City 2 in Province 1 and City 4 in Province 2.

Queue up the debate about why any particular province/city gets to be number one or two etc.

In 3..2..1..

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by JHikka

Sure. Beats naming it after some random person most of us have never heard of or care about, and might even encourage us to get more creative with placenames. Sorry, Bayview.

Meh. Though meaningful names don't always have to be those of people.

[TransitZilla]

Originally Posted by PHrenetic

As a side issue...... Jimbo better remember not to loose the tracks on the bridge - ie: plate around and/or over them, but DO NOT REMOVE them !!!

I think that's the plan. The city page on this talks about this as a "temporary multi-use pathway" and mentions that the "rail bridge" will be retained. I think by that they mean that they will deck over the tracks.

[Kitchissippi]

Call it the InstantPot bridge. A modern chaudière developed in Ottawa

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Kitchissippi

Call it the InstantPot bridge. A modern chaudière developed in Ottawa

Feeling tannant these days?

[J.OT13]

City of Ottawa project web page.

https://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/publi...ti-use-pathway

Project Description

The City of Ottawa is undertaking an Environmental Assessment (EA) study and further the design for an interim multi-use pathway on the Prince of Wales Bridge, as approved by Council on December 9, 2020.

The project consists of the construction of an interim multi-use pathway (MUP) on the existing inactive and retained Prince of Wales rail bridge. The scope of work will include some structural repair work, deck modifications to create the pathway surface, railings, and work on the approaches and bridge lighting. All the work will be designed to the Ontario Highway Bridge Design Code and constructed to City of Ottawa standards and specifications.

Significant permits and approvals are also required prior to proceeding to construction and will be obtained during the EA and design process. Timing for construction has not been confirmed. Currently the Prince of Wales Bridge is closed to public use as it is unsafe for pedestrian or recreational use. The City of Ottawa maintains the structure and performs periodic inspections and evaluations to assess the condition and ensure the integrity of the bridge.

The general project limits for this EA Study are on the map below.



History of the Prince of Wales Bridge
The Prince of Wales Bridge is an existing, out of service railway bridge, that crosses the Ottawa River between the City of Ottawa (Ontario) and the City of Gatineau (Québec) on the O-Train Trillium Line. The Prince of Wales Bridge was constructed in 1879 and was last rehabilitated in 1926. The bridge is formed by two structures (north and south) separated by an island – comprised of six spans in the south structure and seven spans in the north structure. The clear width of the structure is approximately 5 m carrying one track only. The total crossing length is 989 meters.

The City of Ottawa purchased the currently out of service railway bridge from Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) in 2005 for a future, longer-term transit crossing. The Prince of Wales bridge is being retained as a future rail transit bridge in the City’s Three-Year Rail Network Plan as filed with the Canadian Transportation Agency. In 2013, the Bridge was been identified as a future “Major Pathway” in the City’s Transportation Master Plan and is identified in the Ottawa Cycling Plan Affordable Cycling Project List.

Anticipated Project Schedule

Design and Environmental Assessment: winter 2020/2021

Final Design: spring 2021

Construction: to be determined, pending budget and permits approval

Project budget

The approved funds for the environmental assessment and design are estimated to be approximately $540,000.

The project cost is estimated at approximately $10.5 million,

Public engagement

The City of Ottawa has a proactive communication approach to dealing with construction projects and potential impacts to the public. As part of the City’s construction project process, various opportunities to share information will be used, including updates on Ottawa.ca, e-newsletter and Public Service Announcements.

An online public information session is scheduled between February 22 and March 8, 2021 to present and seek additional input on the EA study and design.

Accessibility

Accessibility is an important consideration for the City of Ottawa. The City makes every effort to provide access through and around construction sites. If you require special accommodation, please contact the City’s Project Manager.

[J.OT13]

Presentation, including renderings of what it will look like.

https://documents.ottawa.ca/sites/do..._boards_en.pdf

MUP will be over the rails. Rails to be preserved underneath for future Trillium extension north.

Clearly, they want to do this on the fast and cheap, while protecting themselves from litigation (if the MUP was cantilevered, the rail portion would still be open to trespassers).

Haven't gone through the details, but this seems like a good plan for now.

[J.OT13]

I didn't realize that the steel structures of the bridge date from 1926 while the foundations were completed in 1881. I was under the assumption that the entire bridge dated from 1881.

[rocketphish]

I'm glad that they're keeping the heritage graffiti

[Kitchissippi]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

I didn't realize that the steel structures of the bridge date from 1926 while the foundations were completed in 1881. I was under the assumption that the entire bridge dated from 1881.

I think it was just the steel spans beneath the bridge that were replaced in the 1920s, some of the trusses above might still be original.

At least that's how I understood it from https://churcher.crcml.org/Articles/Article2006_01.html why else would they shorten the piers if they could have just taken out the old structures and put in new?

[lrt's friend]

Here's what the Ottawa Journal said about the Prince of Wales Bridge replacement on February 21, 1927

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7181...e-replacement/

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

Here's what the Ottawa Journal said about the Prince of Wales Bridge replacement on February 21, 1927

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7181...e-replacement/

Thanks for posting! Very interesting history.

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by rocketphish

I'm glad that they're keeping the heritage graffiti

LOL. That couple seem quite intrigued by it.

[OTownandDown]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Thanks for posting! Very interesting history.

Wow, so this was the original rapid bridge replacement. Remarkable for the time, to replace span by span, and NOT delaying any trains more than 20 minutes?

I picture a heavy barge lifting off the old span, and another barge ready to place the new span. But to do all that with such accuracy and STILL have the tracks aligned for trains to run between span replacements is crazy in 1927!

[Allandale25]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

City of Ottawa project web page.

https://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/publi...ti-use-pathway

Project Description

The City of Ottawa is undertaking an Environmental Assessment (EA) study and further the design for an interim multi-use pathway on the Prince of Wales Bridge, as approved by Council on December 9, 2020.

The project consists of the construction of an interim multi-use pathway (MUP) on the existing inactive and retained Prince of Wales rail bridge. The scope of work will include some structural repair work, deck modifications to create the pathway surface, railings, and work on the approaches and bridge lighting. All the work will be designed to the Ontario Highway Bridge Design Code and constructed to City of Ottawa standards and specifications.

Significant permits and approvals are also required prior to proceeding to construction and will be obtained during the EA and design process. Timing for construction has not been confirmed. Currently the Prince of Wales Bridge is closed to public use as it is unsafe for pedestrian or recreational use. The City of Ottawa maintains the structure and performs periodic inspections and evaluations to assess the condition and ensure the integrity of the bridge.

The general project limits for this EA Study are on the map below.



History of the Prince of Wales Bridge
The Prince of Wales Bridge is an existing, out of service railway bridge, that crosses the Ottawa River between the City of Ottawa (Ontario) and the City of Gatineau (Québec) on the O-Train Trillium Line. The Prince of Wales Bridge was constructed in 1879 and was last rehabilitated in 1926. The bridge is formed by two structures (north and south) separated by an island – comprised of six spans in the south structure and seven spans in the north structure. The clear width of the structure is approximately 5 m carrying one track only. The total crossing length is 989 meters.

The City of Ottawa purchased the currently out of service railway bridge from Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) in 2005 for a future, longer-term transit crossing. The Prince of Wales bridge is being retained as a future rail transit bridge in the City’s Three-Year Rail Network Plan as filed with the Canadian Transportation Agency. In 2013, the Bridge was been identified as a future “Major Pathway” in the City’s Transportation Master Plan and is identified in the Ottawa Cycling Plan Affordable Cycling Project List.

Anticipated Project Schedule

Design and Environmental Assessment: winter 2020/2021

Final Design: spring 2021

Construction: to be determined, pending budget and permits approval

Project budget

The approved funds for the environmental assessment and design are estimated to be approximately $540,000.

The project cost is estimated at approximately $10.5 million,

Public engagement

The City of Ottawa has a proactive communication approach to dealing with construction projects and potential impacts to the public. As part of the City’s construction project process, various opportunities to share information will be used, including updates on Ottawa.ca, e-newsletter and Public Service Announcements.

An online public information session is scheduled between February 22 and March 8, 2021 to present and seek additional input on the EA study and design.

Accessibility

Accessibility is an important consideration for the City of Ottawa. The City makes every effort to provide access through and around construction sites. If you require special accommodation, please contact the City’s Project Manager.

Bike Ottawa has tweeted that they've submitted an idea: https://twitter.com/BikeOttawa/statu...68371279544321

"Hey, #OttBike, #OttWalk, #OttRoll! Reminder, today is your last chance to provide comments to @ottawacity ab the Prince of Wales Bridge plans! Bike Ottawa has submitted detailed comments & thoughts on a potential design, here are some highlights..."

[J.OT13]

Good suggestions, but I don't see that happening. The City is looking for a quick and dirty (and the cheapest) solution. Best we could hope for out of those suggestions is the short MUP connecting with ORP West.

[Kitchissippi]

Picnic tables on the island with great views of the city would be a nice addition that's cheap to implement. Making the island more of a destination would increase usage of the bridge.